mgaeta89 asked:


I have a press release written, but im too much of an amateur to know where to send it. Trying to get Bay Area newspapers.

CECIL

3 Responses to “How do Isend a press release?”

1. native on July 16th, 2008 10:05 pm

   first you have to be someone people will listen to.

2. roostercf on July 17th, 2008 2:54 am

   I’d start by looking at newspaper websites. If the information isn’t on there, there is usually contact information for the appropriate section your information would go under.

   Call the appropriate editor and ASK how they would like it to be sent to them. Nothing will kill your press release more than someone getting it by fax, email and hard copy. Some like it in email, some faxed and a few still demand hard copy.

   Also make sure to ask if they like it in email format, whether it should be in the body of the message or an attachment. Some newspapers email companies block all attachments, some don’t.

   It takes a lot of work to get a press release into a major paper. Try to be as courteous as possible and ask questions. The editors (and their secretaries) will appreciate you not screwing up and bothering them with unwanted mail.

   I would also recommend checking out your local Jaycees chapter or Young Professionals chapter. They have seminars on this kind of thing all the time. Your local library or community college may also offer seminars in this area as well.

3. Social_Butterfly on July 20th, 2008 7:02 pm

   The most important question: is the content of the release really news or is it ad-sy? Why should their readers (viewers, listeners) be interested? What’s in it for them? How would someone benefit from this information? Depending on the nature of the release, your business and what audience you’re trying to reach, it’s going to differ on what reporter you’re contacting.

   Reporters get hundreds of news releases every day from PR firms, corporate pros and others, not to mention, the follow-up calls from people asking if the release got through OK. All of this on top of trying to meet a deadline. The last thing you want to do is waste a reporter’s time. If it’s not news and sounds like an advertisement, they’ll toss it in a heartbeat.

   It’s usually harder to get something in the larger mainstream media such as the San Francisco Chronicle. Half of the stories usually come from wire stories written elsewhere. Don’t forget that there are weeklies, alternative publications and independent media that are also good targets, if appropriate.

   Once you’ve identified the right targets, you’ll need to know how they like to receive information (phone, fax, email). Most prefer fax, since it’s the least invasive, but knowing their preferences goes a long way.

   Just remember that media coverage of your release is never guaranteed. If you have a manager that has high expectations, you’ll want to manage them. The only way you can guarantee something to be printed about your company is if you buy an ad.

   To locate media outlets in your area, you can always use the Yahoo! directory and look under News/By Region. That’s the most cost-effective way to do it. Online media databases and paid newswires can be expensive.

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